A BRADFORD grandmother has plans for an aid trip to Africa all sewn-up.

Charity worker Razia Amini taking a cargo of sewing machines so women can be taught how to make and repair clothes.

Mrs Amini, whose last shipment went out to Gambia and included 100 bikes for schoolchildren, has plans to open a sewing centre in a new community in remote and poverty-stricken Burkina Faso.

The 55-year-old will be setting off in August representing national aid charity Humanity First, which she has been supporting for 14 years.

The cargo, of 63 sewing machines will take about eight weeks to arrive.

Mrs Amini, who lives in Heaton, said: "The idea is for women in the new village to be taught sewing skills so they can fix and make their own clothes and create other garments that they can then go on to sell.

"It's teaching them how to support themselves and their families."

Mrs Amini will also be taking donated material with her to get the women started.

Two years ago she was in a remote region of Gambia, where she handed out school equipment including 200 desks, chairs, books and laptops.

And last year she took bicycles to Gambian schools as most children children there walk up to seven miles in the heat just to attend classes each day.

As well as relying on people's generosity, Mrs Amini also uses her bargain hunting and negotiating skills to find items for her aid collections, from mugs and plates to unwanted furniture and old computers - and once 800 pairs of shoes from a Gambian wholesale market.

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Mrs Amini managed to source around 40 of the sewing machines herself, with another 20 or so donated by well-wishers.

She is taking a 40ft container on her trip and it is the first time she has been to Burkina Faso.

"It's twice as big as the containers I have filled in the past. It has taken some doing [to fill it] but people are still very generous," she said.

Mrs Amini also wanted to say a special thank you to Queensbury Secondary School for donating books.

"There will be many more trips to come so I'm still looking for donations," she said.

To make a donation, e-mail razia.amini@hotmail.co.uk or call her on 07889 524557.